ASLEF on Grayling's hit squad

01 September 2016

Mick Whelan, general secretary of ASLEF, said: 'It's high time the Transport Secretary took responsibility and got involved in the systemic failures at Southern Railways because the DfT has been pulling the strings behind the problems there. But Chris Grayling's "hit squad" to sort out the mess is doomed to failure while the toxic indifference that is GTR runs the franchise, as the passengers who are suffering know only too well. The reality on the railway is that the damage to staff morale is beyond repair and commuters have had enough. Everyone - including Conservative MPs who represent commuters in the region - wants GTR stripped of this franchise and, until that happens, nothing will improve.'